remunerate

verb

re·​mu·​ner·​ate ri-ˈmyü-nə-ˌrāt 

remunerated; remunerating

transitive verb

1

: to pay an equivalent for

their services were generously remunerated

2

: to pay an equivalent to for a service, loss, or expense : recompense

remunerator

ri-ˈmyü-nə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

remuneratory

ri-ˈmyü-nə-rə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• compensate
• pay
• recompense

Choose the Right Synonym for remunerate

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of remunerate in a Sentence

promptly remunerated the repair company for fixing the dryer

the negligent landlord must remunerate those made homeless by the fire by finding new housing for them at his own expense

Recent Examples on the Web

These professionals are remunerated highly to use data and facts to make the right calls for the sake of the bank’s profits. —Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

This will also have business implications: Artists can be remunerated based on their training data, which might be an improvement over the hip-hop business models of the past and present. —C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024

The break-up of a successful but lavishly remunerated squad has been hugely controversial among the supporters. —Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024

Creators need to be consulted, give consent and be remunerated when their work is used to develop AI models. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin remuneratus, past participle of remunerare to recompense, from re- + munerare to give, from muner-, munus gift — more at mean

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for remunerate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

remunerate

verb

re·​mu·​ner·​ate ri-ˈmyü-nə-ˌrāt 

remunerated; remunerating

: to pay an equivalent to for a service, loss, or expense : recompense

remunerator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun